I think for me 2012 will be a year of making boundries. Something I'm not used to doing. I've always been so open, but learning hard lessons from last year that make me think that maybe it's time to set some limits. Happy new year Miss Suzanne, I know you will have an awesome one! P.S. your daughter's painting is amazing!

Love this post...now you got me thinking my friend.Wishing you a very blessed year...and tell your sweet daughter...she would LOVE Vancouver...if she does make it over this way I will be happy to play MOM!What school is she look at? Hugs dear one. xoxoxo

Such an interesting post! My sign is Year of the Monkey and I must say my weaknesses as noted aren't too flattering! 2011 was a year filled with unexpected events and a fair bit of stress - something I probably could have handled better. Here's hoping 2012 is a little more calm and holds lots of joy. And I wish all the best to you for an awesome, memorable 2012! xo

I anticipate 2012 to be a year of turning dreaming into doing... and a few other things too. I will be reading this post again and contemplating it through the week. Thank you for your thought-provoking reflections.

I have decided this year my watchword will be "EMBRACE" Embrace the new, view the things I have to do with more enthusiasm. Coincidentally yesterday my daughter and I decided to go and see the Chinese New Year celebrations in Manchester for the first time, we have been meaning to go for years. I am a Dog by the way.

A very Happy New Year to you and yours. Your daughter's painting of the year of the snake is wonderful.

Hi Suzanne,Happy new year to you.I was only chatting to a friend the other day and said that 2012 is going to be my year for de-cluttering and simplifying life.I have been a little busy recently and haven't been blogging or visiting my favourite blogs recently and I hope to get back to routine with this too.x

Suzanne, you are a tremendously gifted writer, for your ideas are rich in depth and purpose. What a great read on this relaxed Monday, the day before school begins. I am so blessed to know you, to have spoken to you on three occasions, and let's make this THE YEAR OF CONNECTIONS with other bloggers of like mind and with each other. JULY ???? BRING ON THE CREATIVE CONNECTION in our town!

Suzanne, I have reached the age of 49 and a place where I do not chronicle days, weeks, months, or years. It is a happy and content place. I have had many sorrows but that makes these times better and I appreciate them more. Happy New Year, Olive

I love this post, Suzanne! The Year of Possibilities! Very thought provoking...and I love Elizabeth's painting, too! I found out I am Year of the Horse. I want to continue in 2012, what I started in 2011...a year of stepping out of my comfort zone~ taking risks and trying new things.

Suzanne, I love this post! Very thought provoking. I love that you have said the Year of Possibilities. Last year was quite stressful for me so I am hoping for a year of calm and joy. I am going to read your post again...it really is wonderful.I will link up my New Years post a little later today but I also might be back in a few days to link up something new.Dear friend, I am so hoping we can get together this year. I wish you and your family many, many wonderful blessings including happiness, good health and prosperity and...some delightful surprises. Much love to you. XO

I am excited 2012 is here, so far so good. 2011 I must say was not the best, and I am happy to open a new door to a new year.Loved this post...and love your reflections and your thoughts, you expressed yourself so well and I particularly felt your emotion when you spoke of letting go of your daughter as she nears graduation (always a bittersweet deal)! My "baby" will be right behind her graduating in 2014 :( Enjoying every moment until then!I am thinking this year will be the year of doing. For me personally, I want to see to it that I actually achieve some of the things I have dreamt of, longed to do and aspired to do but for whatever reason haven't done. This is my year. Heres to lifes best for everyone in 2012!! Another wonderful post.

Hello lovely friend, the very first thing I did early this morning was read this post, and I am just now getting back to comment and join your party :)Oh I love Chinese New Years!! My first baby was born in the Year of the Tiger also (your boy too, I believe?) so apparently the three of you are "Dynamic and dramatic, filled with passion and daring, spontaneous and lively."!!! (according to my guide) I'm The Year of the Boar - "Having a taste for indulgence and luxury, but doesn't always handle money well."

Happy new year to you and your beautiful family, Suzanne. Wishing all of you The Year of Health and Joy along with being the Year of Possibilities!! xoxoL.

i want it to be a year of forgiving, and this is also going to be the year of zipping it. as in shutting my mouth more often to become a better listener and life learner and friend. it's not that i'm overbearing offline, but i do feel the need to fill up silences that i shouldn't. probably a year of less blogging. lord knows i have written enough and been to the ends of the internet enough for a lifetime. there is nothing wrong with quiet, stillness, and the listening ear.

You are always able to say in perfect words exactly what I'm feeling. I feel so good after I read your posts because I have a much better understanding of what I feel yet struggle to say myself.

2011 was also a year of letting go for me. We had some struggles around here and it's taken me almost the whole year to accept and let go of hurt, expectations and my own selfish wants. Better late than never though I suppose.

2012 is going to be the year of achieving. There's so many things I have on my want-to-accomplish list and after having those dreams for so long, I'm going to go after them. I know I will feel good at least attempting to accomplish them.

I wish you happiness and peace . . . It has been such a pleasure visiting you this past year. xo Sarah

Happy new year full of possibilities and the possibility of possibilities! : ),Liz

p.s. I got your note about changing my status so I can receive replys and me being the technology dinasaur that I am --even with the link you generously provided -- have not gotten around to it yet, but I will, I promise! : )

Your daughter is such a talented artist...that snake was quite impressive! And now I have a craving for some Chinese food. I need to sit and ponder what 2012 will represent for me. You always have that affect on me when I come and read your posts Suzanne. You always help me quiet myself and focus on your thought provoking questions. Happy New Year my friend! xo ~Lili

oh missed you friend. i am back as well..if ever so slowlythis post made me sad..not quite sure whymaybe it is the song;) and the painful awareness of times passing and how fleeting life is and my fear that some of the healing my heart longs to see may not happen. i know i can't control that...still

anyway--your post is beautiful and deep. i love you for that. now off to see what animal i am. i forget;) happy Tuesdayxo

Awesome post...I love the way your mind ponders many things as you connect with your daily activities...so many things in our walk COULD be thought provoking if we would allow....and not be so busy in the urgent. :-) Our year of 2010 was our Year of Hope that God would bring change in Kurt's career journey, and HE did..2011 was dubbed our year of Jubilee that after many months of work and prayer and waiting, that the time would come to see fulfilment and finality in the path to be together again. As God made all the pieces start locking back together in our life puzzle after it got tossed in 2006 when Kurt lost his work...we began to see and feel the big picture appearing. Our story was being rewoven. And here this year of 2012 we are calling it our family year of Gratitude...for ALL that He has done, both the hard and the wonderful. MY "personal quest" is for 2012 to be my year of INTENTION in everything I pursue. No drifting through days with no plan or purpose to accomplish something before the sun sets. This will be WORK for me if I truly keep it DAILY! Loved your post. thanks so much for making us "ponder" bloggy sis. Hugs to you! Stay Warm!!!

Happy New Year , dear Suzanne ! I would like the new year to be called The Year of Possibility . In fact, I believe every year brings new promises. I will name mine The year of Artistry as I want to master my skills to live in a present moment and create my own life. No bad , even ambitious :)Thank you for the endless inspiration!Oh, I am a Rooster - I can awaken people to get up in the morning :)Enjoy the hew day !

As always your post nails it right on the head!I am the year of the Rat...Bitsy is the year of the Rabbit.It's always fun to see how close they fall to our actual personalities.Hmm...2012 will be the year of....growth.Growing in my new role as a stay at home mom, as my role as Bitsy's Mom, as my role as a Military wife. I have so much to adjust to and learn from and grow into this year! It's going to be a blessed year.I wish you a Blessed 2012 too!Biz

Entering 2012, no specific goals came to mind, but a calm that I'm where I'm supposed to be. So, I'm going to just go with the flow and take it all in. Worry less (I'm the year of the sheep, so no surprise) and enjoy more.

Love that you're having your talented daughter paint you a version of the painting I highlighted today. You'll have to share it when it's complete!!

Oh Sweetheart. What a gorgeous, thought-provoking post. As usual. 2012 will be my year of simplifying - see here (http://www.homelifesimplified.com.au/52-weeks-to-simplify-your-life-challenge/) if you're interested. It could overlap with your year of possibilities, I think. Looking forward to sharing this bloggy caper with you again this year, Lovely. J x

Happy New Year Suzanne. Wow! Now that's some deep thinking. My brain just doesn't work like that. And beautiful writing. My Chinese Zodiac is the Year of the Horse. The first sentence of its description certainly fits me at this point in my life: The spirit of the horse is recognized to be the Chinese people's ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves. When I was 12, a friend and I used to sit in her closet typing up the book we were going to write on horses -- we collected pictures, anything with horses on it, and even horse hair we would find snagged on fences around pastures where horses were kept. Your daughter's snake painting is really good. Hope you are having a good week. Best wishes, Tammy

I think I will call this the year of new life. My fourth grandchild will be born in the year of the dragon. Soon I hope to be inspired enough to link up with your Monday moments...we'll see how things go. Wishing you a happy New Year Suzanne!

Such a great post to read Suzanne, and one that has really got me thinking. The year of possibilities - I love the sound of this, and can't wait to see where you let this take you. Your online shop sounds like a great place to start! Happy 2012 my friend. I always love tuning in to your wisdom.Amanda xx